All too often we just go along with our life, possibly having a feeling that this is not the way we thought our life would be. Maybe feeling like there are too many demands on our time or listening to others who say how they think we should be living our life.

If feelings of inadequacy or indecision are ruling your life, then it is time to step back and think about the life you are leading and have created, as you are the artist who draws on your canvas of life.

It is important to take time for ourselves and work for the kind of life we want.

This means taking time to create goals and working toward those goals.

Taking time to work on yourself will pave the way for the life that you want.

To begin, you have to create goals for yourself, which can be difficult. Most people, when asked what they want out of their life, reply, “to be happy.”

But what exactly does that really mean?

Of course everyone wants to be happy; however, most people have an unrealistic perception of how their life “should” be.

As humans, our nature is to focus on the negative as a means of survival.

From the beginning of time as hunters and gatherers, we developed certain coping skills to stay alive.

Although that negative nature is in us, it does not apply to the world we live in today.

Unfortunately, the primal parts of our brain, which focus on survival, have not caught up with the age of technology.

That leaves most of us living in a place where our glass is half-empty, where we are always focused on the negative and tend to blame everyone else for how awful our lives are.

Being focused on the negative and allowing others to control how you feel can leave you believing you have no control over your life.

Instead of painting on your life canvas, you allow others to paint whatever they want and then complain about how you don’t like the painting.

You are in control of your life and have a choice as to whether you give your power away or decide to keep it.

Taking responsibility for your thoughts and actions is difficult. Living a healthy life is not easy; it takes work.

I have learned anything in this life that is worth getting takes hard work, but in the end, the feelings of peace, contentment and actually enjoying your life are not something that can be bought at your local grocery store or online.

To take control of your life — which is a work of art — you must accept that you are responsible for your thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

No one can make you feel a certain way unless you allow them to do so.

Begin by noticing how often you have negative thoughts and when you tend to blame others around you for those thoughts.

Then create goals around how you would like your life to be, and begin to make choices that will help you get that life.

Keep in mind that you have to start with small goals and work from there.

Accept that your life will not be better overnight but takes work and time.

Life is a series of lessons to be learned and will always be what you make of it.

Only allow others who show you respect and admiration to draw on your canvas, as your life masterpiece is the only work of art you control.